Surgical stapling device with lockout system for preventing actuation in the absence of an installed staple cartridge

Abstract

Surgical stapling instruments surgical stapling cartridges are disclosed. At least one embodiment includes an end effector that has an elongate channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and an anvil that is movably supported on the elongate channel between an open position and closed positions in response to an application of opening and closing motions applied thereto. An anvil lock member cooperates with the anvil to retain the anvil in an open position when a staple cartridge has not been installed in the elongate channel and prevent the anvil from moving to a closed position until the staple cartridge has been seated within the elongate channel. Surgical staple cartridges are configured to move the anvil from an open position to an actuatable position when the cartridge has been installed in the end effector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
 an end effector comprising:
 a staple cartridge; 
 an elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to be installed into the elongate channel; and 
 an anvil movably supported on the elongate channel between an open position and closed positions in response to an application of opening and closing motions applied thereto; and 
 
 an anvil lock member cooperating with the anvil to lock the anvil in an open position when the staple cartridge is not installed in the elongate channel and to prevent the anvil from moving to a closed position until the staple cartridge is installed in the elongate channel, and wherein the installation of the staple cartridge into the elongate channel unlocks the anvil. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the anvil comprises an anvil mounting portion pivotally supported on the elongate channel, and wherein the anvil lock member is biased into contact with the anvil mounting portion. 
     
     
       3. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the anvil mounting portion further comprises a pair of opposed anvil trunnions movably received in corresponding trunnion slots in the elongate channel. 
     
     
       4. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 3 , wherein each anvil trunnion slot comprises:
 a locking notch for receiving the corresponding anvil trunnion therein when the surgical staple cartridge has not been installed into the elongate channel; and 
 an arcuate slot segment for receiving the corresponding anvil trunnion therein when the cartridge has been installed into the elongate channel such that the corresponding anvil trunnion may movably traverse within the arcuate slot segment upon application of a closing motion to the anvil. 
 
     
     
       5. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 4 , wherein the anvil lock member biases the anvil mounting portion to seat and retain the anvil trunnions in the corresponding locking notch when the surgical staple cartridge has not been installed into the elongate channel. 
     
     
       6. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the anvil mounting portion is configured to pivot upon a portion of the elongate channel. 
     
     
       7. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the anvil mounting portion comprises a pivot tab configured to pivot upon a pivot mount supported within the elongate channel. 
     
     
       8. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the anvil lock member comprises:
 a body portion configured for contact with the anvil mounting portion; and 
 a biasing member cooperating with the body portion to bias the body portion into contact with the anvil mounting portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the body portion includes at least one cam surface thereon for contact with the anvil mounting portion to cam the anvil into the open position when the surgical staple cartridge has not been installed into the elongate channel. 
     
     
       10. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the anvil lock member comprises a leaf spring configured for biasing contact with the anvil mounting portion. 
     
     
       11. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
 a handle; 
 an elongate shaft assembly operably coupled to the handle; 
 a closure system operably supported by the handle for generating closing and opening motions in response to actuation of a closure trigger operably supported by the handle; 
 an elongate channel coupled to the elongate shaft assembly; 
 an anvil including an anvil mounting portion movably supported on the elongate channel between an open position and closed positions in response to applications of opening and closing motions transmitted thereto through the elongate shaft assembly; 
 an anvil lock member operably supported by the elongate shaft assembly for movable engagement with the anvil mounting portion; and 
 a surgical staple cartridge configured to be seated within the elongate channel and cooperating with the anvil mounting portion such that:
 when the surgical staple cartridge has not been seated within the elongate channel, the anvil lock member cooperates with the anvil mounting portion to retain the anvil in the open position; and 
 when the surgical staple cartridge is seated within the elongate channel, the staple cartridge moves the anvil mounting portion to a position wherein the anvil may be closed upon application of the closure motions thereto. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the anvil mounting portion further comprises a pair of opposed anvil trunnions movably received in corresponding trunnion slots in the elongate channel. 
     
     
       13. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 12 , wherein each trunnion slot comprises:
 a locking notch for receiving the corresponding anvil trunnion therein when the surgical staple cartridge has not been seated within the elongate channel; and 
 an arcuate slot segment for receiving the corresponding anvil trunnion therein when the surgical staple cartridge has been seated within the elongate channel such that the corresponding anvil trunnion may movably traverse therein upon application of a closing motion to the anvil. 
 
     
     
       14. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the surgical staple cartridge is configured to contact the anvil mounting portion when the surgical staple cartridge has been seated in the elongate channel to move the anvil mounting portion such that the anvil trunnions are moved from the corresponding locking notch to the corresponding arcuate slot segment. 
     
     
       15. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body configured to be seated within the elongate channel; and 
 at least one pivot portion configured for pivoting contact with the anvil mounting portion when the surgical staple cartridge has been seated within the elongate channel. 
 
     
     
       16. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one pivot portion comprises a pair of wedge-shaped pivot members formed on a proximal end of the cartridge body, and wherein each of the pivot members define a sloped pivot surface for contact with a corresponding portion of the anvil mounting portion. 
     
     
       17. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the anvil lock member comprises:
 a body portion configured for contact with the anvil mounting portion; and 
 a biasing member cooperating with the body portion to bias the body portion into contact with the anvil mounting portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the anvil lock member comprises a leaf spring configured for biasing contact with the anvil mounting portion. 
     
     
       19. A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument including an end effector with an anvil that is supported in an open position until moved to an actuatable position wherein the anvil is movable to closed positions in response to a closing motion applied thereto by a closure system, the surgical staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body sized to be removably seated within a portion of the end effector such that a portion of the cartridge body contacts the anvil and moves the anvil from the open position to the actuatable position when seated within the end effector. 
     
     
       20. The surgical staple cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the cartridge body further comprises a pair of wedge-shaped pivot members formed on a proximal end of the cartridge body wherein each of the pivot members define a sloped pivot surface for contact with a corresponding portion of the anvil. 
     
     
       21. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
 a staple cartridge; 
 a first jaw, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to be installed into the first jaw; 
 a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw; and 
 a lock system configured to prevent the relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw before the staple cartridge is installed into the first jaw, and wherein the lock system is configured to permit relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw when the staple cartridge is installed into the first jaw. 
 
     
     
       22. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the lock system comprises a lock member that engages the second jaw, and wherein the lock member is engaged by the staple cartridge when the staple cartridge is installed into the first jaw. 
     
     
       23. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the second jaw comprises a mounting portion, and wherein the lock system comprises a lock member that is biased against the mounting portion. 
     
     
       24. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the second jaw comprises a pair of trunnions, and wherein the first jaw comprises a pair of trunnion slots each comprising a locking portion configured to house the pair of trunnions before the staple cartridge is installed into the first jaw. 
     
     
       25. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
 a staple cartridge; 
 a first jaw; 
 a second jaw; and 
 a lock system configured to hold the second jaw in an open position, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to engage the lock system and unlock the second jaw such that the second jaw can be moved to a closed position. 
 
     
     
       26. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the staple cartridge is configured to be installed into the first jaw. 
     
     
       27. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 26 , wherein the staple cartridge comprises a release portion configured to engage the second jaw upon installation of the staple cartridge into the first jaw. 
     
     
       28. The surgical stapling instrument of  claim 25 , wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a mounting portion, and wherein the lock system comprises a lock member that is biased against the mounting portion.